PO‘IPU — Four musicians vied for cash prizes at the Grand Hyatt Resort & Spa’s annual Hawaiian Instrumental Competition, Sunday, at the ‘Ilima Terrace Restaurant, a news release states. The competition links closely to the Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival and is
PO‘IPU — Four musicians vied for cash prizes at the Grand Hyatt Resort & Spa’s annual Hawaiian Instrumental Competition, Sunday, at the ‘Ilima Terrace Restaurant, a news release states.
The competition links closely to the Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival and is in their calendar of cultural events that continue through Saturday in various locations.
Contest rules required that contestants play two songs — the first a slow piece, the second a fast piece.
Contestant John Medeiros, 16, a Waimea High School junior, won first place, playing ‘‘ukulele. His songs were “Dragon” and “Third Stream.”
Medeiros, who started playing nine-and-a-half years ago, wrote on his contest application, “I’ve never taken a lesson — I prefer to learn songs by ear.”
Axel Menezes, 17, a Kaua‘i High School senior, won second place playing ‘ukulele and tied for the People’s Choice award. His first song was “Ehime Maru,” composed by Jake Shimabukuru.
The song is meant to give listeners an insight into what it must have felt like to be aboard the Japanese high school fishing ship of the same name in the waters off the south coast of O‘ahu when it sank. During the tragic 2001 accident, nine crewmembers, including four high school students, were killed when an American submarine underwent a demonstration emergency surfacing maneuver, causing a collision.
Menezes also performed an instrumental interpretation of “Maui Hawaiian Supa Man,” composed by Del Beazley and made popular by Brudda Iz. On his contest application, Menezes wrote, “I have a strong passion for playing ‘ukulele — I picked it up in seventh grade and played ever since.”
John Planos, an employee of the Hyatt, won third place playing “Sea Dreams” and “Going Surfing.” He was also the only entrant into the slack key category and took home that prize.
Tiffany Diamond “Tita” Lopez, 17, a senior at Waimea High School, won fourth place, playing “Big Deal” and “Lei Ho‘ohono” — “My Cherished Lei.” Lopez also tied with Menezes for the People’s Choice award.
On her contest application, Lopez wrote, “My passion runs deep within all kinds of music. I’m always learning and my ‘ukulele is my steady companion.”
Stella Burgess, manager of Hawaiian Culture and Community Relations at the Hyatt, introduced the program and the judges: Aldrine Guerrero, Tony Wichman and Moani Low, daughter of the late Kaui Low who used to judge the contest and in whose memory the event continues.
Visit www.maliefoundation.org/mokihanafest.html for the full Kaua‘i Mokihana Festival schedule.
